Vermilion Sailors hang on to ground Firelands Falcons

HENRIETTA TWP. — Football, especially at the high school level, is such an unpredictable game and things can change in the blink of an eye.The Firelands Falcons and the visiting Vermilion Sailors proved that Friday night, in a very weird game which saw both teams go on huge runs while shutting the other out.When it was all said and done Vermilion was able to hold on and pull out a 28-21 victory, though it couldn’t have been the most inspiring win the Sailors have experienced.“This game was the definition of the phrase, ‘a tale of two halves’,” Vermilion head coach Rob Duray said. “We definitely looked like a different team in the second half, and that’s something we’re going to have to work on.”Things couldn’t have started off any better for Vermilion.The Sailors absolutely dominated the game through the first quarter and most of the second, scoring touchdowns on each of their first four possessions.Their defense was very solid as well, holding Firelands to just 28 total yards and four three-and-outs early on.Rushing touchdowns of 65, 34, and 15 yards helped the Sailors put up 235 total rushing yards in the first half and jump out to a 28-0 lead.Following their fourth score (a 15-yard TD run by Brenden Zannoni) however, the whole game did a 360.After allowing Vermilion to score literally at will early in the game, Firelands looked like an entirely different team.The Falcons were able to force Vermilion into three straight three-and-outs, and finally put some points of their own up on a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Arron Stevanus right before halftime.Firelands kept the momentum going in the third.First, it forced yet another Vermilion three-and-out. Then, on the Falcons’ next possession, quarterback Brad Thrasher broke loose for a 14-yard TD to cut the lead to 28-14.The Falcons continued to shut Vermilion down throughout the third quarter and after another TD run by Stevanus in the fourth quarter, they found themselves down just 28-21.“My kids really grew up in the second half of this game,” Firelands head coach Mike Passerrello said. “We have such a young team, but we never quit. They kept fighting and grew a lot tonight, and I’m proud of them.”Unfortunately the clock was not on their side. After pulling within seven at 28-21, the Falcons were unable to get a stop and never got the ball back.Vermilion converted a huge fake punt on a fourth-and-5 with just under two minutes left to all but end it.“My kids actually came up to me and said they wanted to go for it, and I was really happy about that,” Duray said. “When you’re trying to turn a program around like we are, you want kids that have that type of attitude. Thankfully it worked out in our favor.”There was a packed house at Firelands High school as the Falcons celebrated an early homecoming.The Falcons were led by Thrasher, who threw for 97 yards and rushed for 101 yards and a score.Zannoni and senior Mike Repko led the Sailors with two rushing touchdowns apiece.Vermilion lost starting running back Arron Rice to a broken hand early in the game. He hopes to play some defense next week.“I hated seeing Rice go down like that, us running backs are pretty close,” Repko said. “Hopefully he can come back for us on defense, we’re going to need him. We’re off to a great start (2-1) and have to keep it going.”Vermilion 28, Firelands 21Non ConferenceVermilion (2-1) 14 14 0 0 — 28Firelands (0-3) 0 7 7 7 — 21ScoringV — Repko 2 run (Joe Rini good)V — Zannoni 65 run (Rini good)V — Repko 34 run (Rini good)V — Zannoni 15 run (Rini good)F — Stevanus 3 run (Clark good)F — Thrasher 14 run (Clark good)F — Stevanus 1 run (Clark good)StatisticsFirst Downs — V 17, F 16Yards Rushing — V 304, F 144Yards Passing — V 8, F 97Passes Att.-Comp.-Int — V 6-1-0, OD 25-14-0Penalties-Yards — V 7-55, F 4-30